Roll of Honor
Incident
Patrolman Douglas Adams was killed in an automobile accident involving two police cruisers at West Franklin Street and South Main Street.
The two officers were responding to back up an officer who was in a foot pursuit at the time. Their cruisers collided at an intersection, killing Patrolman Adams instantly. The officer in the other cruiser suffered minor injuries. The suspect involved in the foot pursuit was eventually captured. He was convicted of drug trafficking and resisting arrest, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Patrolman Adams was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had served with the Elkhart Police Department for 11 months and had previously served as a reserve officer with the Liberty City Police Department.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-IN-B05929AF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Patrolman III Adams served with the Elkhart Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Elkhart community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Douglas Michael Adams served in the Air Force (1990â1991) before joining law enforcement.
Patrolman III Douglas Michael Adams is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In IN, 151 of 503 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 30% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points below the national rate of 31%.
At Elkhart Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Douglas Michael Adams's cause is highlighted.
How Douglas Michael Adams Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Douglas Michael Adams is highlighted in Mar.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Elkhart Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
